Bradford Park Avenue...Dark Horses for next season?

Just wondering what people think about BPA's recruitment and prospects? They look to me to be assembling a pretty strong squad, and they have an excellent manager in Mark Bower.

Look who they have: Nicky Clee and Brooksby and Killock (all ex-Town), Oli Johnson from Guiseley (quality in my view), Adam Boyes, Matt Hill (full of experience), Drench from Guiseley, good keeper, James Knowles, Ryan Toulson (also ex-Town), not forgetting Adam, also ex-Town. I wouldn't mind that squad myself!
Could be a useful outside bet for the top 7?

Decent squad yes but only on par with most in our league, apart from Salford who I think will walk it this season and maybe kiddy, there is pretty much 10-15 sides who consider themselves playoff hopefuls. BPA biggest problem playing half there games at horsefall

Yes, about the most depressing football ground I have been to.

As it stands i can't see us finishing above BPA next season. Salford will walk the league, York & Kidderminster will lead the way in the play offs.
I fear we may be bottom half at best. Hope i'm wrong.

Afraid I have to agree with this. I feel as though our squad has potential, but with the quality of the other teams in the league anything above mid table would be a bonus. I remain surprised that, having taken the massive decision to go full time, the squad, on paper at least, looks really no better than the squad of August last year. Then we had Pittman, Thanoj, Colbeck, a fit Kerry etc.

I don't really understand it. At the very least I thought a prolific striker would be brought in, OK, not easy to find I accept, but we have deep pockets. For goals we are relying on Ainge doing it again (Hope he does but its a big ask), Knowles staying fit and doing the business for us (again, fingers crossed). Thewlis having stepped up since he was last with us (to be fair his goal against Leeds was brilliantly taken), so here's hoping. Thomson seems like he might be a goal scorer from midfield. In fact, he is the player I am most looking forward to seeing, the one signing that really excited me this close season.

But, as others have said, lots of other teams have stepped up, and Salford will probably be this season's Fylde. I do fear that full time or not, our stay in the National North might be a long one!

You don't see us finishing above BPA? you have to be kidding. The squad we had last season vastly under preformed. If we had the same squad again, I would expect us to do better this time round and based on the profiles of the players we have brought in, we have a stronger squad this season. Apart from Colbeck and Pittmen, the player that left were all not bad utility players mainly. Plus we now have full time training, which should make a difference
BPA's squad might be a step up from what they had last season, but most of them players are hardly top draw. They will be lucky if they if they finish in top 10.
In addition, a lot of teams have strengthened but some are a bit weaker. Kidderminster have lost strength Stockport lost 2 key players.
Either way, Bradford won't finish above Town. Hence why BPA are still 40-50/1 at the bookies and Town are 14-20/1.

Beware the false dawn of last season !
This season we don't play a team in the top 5 betting until 9th game in (Salford Sept 5 Home), so the pattern could be similar to last season when we were top/near top in the first quarter because we hadn't played a team in the top 10 positions ! Then ... we know what happened.
On the plus side - sound goalie from Tamworth, worth a few extra points over last season; and Thewliss sounds to have improved from the last time he wore a Town shirt, plus good reports from the midfield/goal scorer from FCUM and other 'promising' signings.
I put my annual each-way bet on this morning, so here's hoping my self-imposed 'born loser' tag is about to disappear !